Fiberglass vs Plastic Pergolas
Both fiberglass and plastic pergolas offer the benefit of a low maintenance outdoor structure. There are two types of plastic pergolas currently available, the first and most common is constucted from vinyl(also known as PVC). The second type of plastic pergola is constructed from a material similar to composite decking(Azek or Palite). These are low maintenance materials, however they differ significantly in terms of quality, lifetime and finish. Below is a detailed comparision of these materials.
Fiberglass
* Maintenance free
* Available in any color
* Structural material with free-spans of up to 20'
* Will not mildew, mold or yellow
* One piece CNC rafter tails
Vinyl
* Low maintenance but will mildew and yellow over time
* Non-structural vinyl tubes
* Pressure treated lumber is inserted into the vinyl and can sag, twist and rot
* Available in a limited number of colors
* Snap-on rafter tails
Azek
* Requires bi-annual painting
* Yellows and mildews over time
* Sheets of Azek are glued to either aluminum or lumber for structural support
* Azek will delaminate and fall of over time
* High cost of ownership
Comparison Chart
| Fiberglass | PVC(Vinyl fencing) | C-PVC(Azek) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance: | Maintenance free. | Maintenance free. Will yellow & mildew. | Requires bi-annual painting. Will yellow & mildew. |
| Finish: | Available in any color | Limited color options | Limited color options |
| Durability: | Hard industrial coatings. Durable cast fiberglass column bases. | Scratches easily. Plastic post bases break easily | Azek delaminates and fall off over time |
| Lifespan: | Designed to last a minimum of 15 years | Minimum of 5 years | Minimum of 5 years |
| Structural Properties: | Structural fiberglass pultrusions will not sag or warp. | Structural pressure treated core. Prone to sagging and warping. | Structural pressure treated core. Prone to sagging and warping. |
Azek Pergola Fail
Mildew
This Azek pergola was poorly constructed. It experienced yellowing, excessive rot and sagging as a result of the manufacturer cutting corners.
Beams
This what the main structural support beam looked like when the Azek fell off and the remainder was removed.
Baldwin to the rescue!
The client's contractor reached out to us and we replaced the existing structure with a fiberglass pergola that will last for years to come.
Testimonials
Bill SchlaepferMax I want to thank you for the promptness with which you handled this problem. The way you have handled this speaks volumes about the quaility of your company. I would not hesitate doing business with you again. Thanks again.
Terry McKinneyMax, I wanted to drop you a line on the pergola. I have received nothing but rave reviews on this "magnificent structure". All of our expectations have been meet and exceeded - your shop has done a great job. We are celebrating an engagement and it will get a lot of usage during that party. Thanks again for your commitment on getting it here as you promised. We will look forward to many years of enjoyment.
Lee HausmanGood to hear from you. My pergola is doing fine and continues to be a great addition to my house. I had a lot of nice parties under it this year and I'm still collecting compliments about it. I hope you and the business continue to prosper and I look forward to adding some more Baldwin furniture to my collection next spring. Cheers,
Tom PetrelliThe pergola is up and looks great. You made this task so easy, we really reaped the benefit of your experience. I will send you a photo. Thanks for all your help.
John MasonMax, the Pergola turned out great. No problems with installation and my customer and I are very pleased with the product. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.
Kent WarkentinWow, Chris. I really appreciate your help on this effort. These plans are excellent and will definitely make my job easier. Again, thank you so much for your help. I will send you pictures when we get it all done. This pergola is the centerpiece of the Rosa Parks elementary school's outdoor classroom so it is a big deal to them that we are helping them out.
Terry CleavelandYou had asked me to send you some photos and I'm just getting around to it. Installation was smooth and we weren't missing any pieces. Good instructions. We love it. I installed rope lighting and it really pops at night.
Ted YipThe pergola looks amazing and you and your team went above and beyond the call of duty. I'd also like to thank you for helping to get our kitchen cabinets off the delivery truck and into our driveway. You and your team have been true professionals and I would be glad (and proud) to be a referral in the future. I'll be sure to send pics once the outdoor kitchen is completely installed. Thanks again.
Ellen BowenWe love our beautiful pergola! It's exactly what we wanted and we're really enjoying it. We've planted yellow Leverkusen roses and pink lemonade honeysuckle around the posts.
Steve and RheaWe are on island and the pergola looks GREAT!!! It is better than we had hoped for and as you know by now, I think it through to the end, so we had high expectations. You have exceeded them all! Thanks for all of the effort and all of the hard work getting this installed in a day. It really adds another dimension to the house, balances it in the yard, and best of all creates a new exterior room to enjoy. The wisteria have been ordered and will be planted in the next couple weeks. Thanks again.
"First, man defines his architecture. Forever after, his architecture defines him."
It's been a tremendous honor to design and build these fantastic structures for our customers. We look forward to upcoming challenges and the beauty they bless us with.
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